Yes, even Sir Ridley Scott is following suit with the 3D craze as of late, further cementing the “more visceral” mode of viewing as the future of cinema. While I’m still not convinced that 3D is a wholly benevolent force in the industry, it does shed a little light as to why Scott would agree to such a novelty project. Virtually every bigwig director on the scene is itching to get comfortable with the Cameron-endorsed new technology, so testing the waters on a film that panders to a built-in fan base might be central to Scott’s decision to direct.

The film’s art-director, Roger Christian, had this short but informative quote in regards to his and Scott’s overall excitement regarding the project: “Ridley told me some of his ideas when we were here in Toronto. He has a very clear understanding of where this should go. They kind of stopped dead one of the greatest horror franchises there’s ever been, and it had legs to go on. So I’m hoping he’ll revive another three. The world certainly wants it, and the fans want it – everybody.”

For the full article and more about the film, click here.

Going into the second season, intrigue was at an all-time high for the series’ buffs, but the ratings had dipped considerably as a good chunk of Fox’s viewers found the serialized brain-teaser too exasperating of a trip to see through until the end. While season 2 is still under way, one too many meandering “filler” episodes has caused viewers to lose even more focus, starting rumors just a few weeks ago that the program was in danger of not getting picked up for a third season.

Well, I’m here to tell you that just isn’t so. Fox has officially ordered a full 22-episode season of Walter, Peter and Agent Dunham’s trippy explorations of the darker side of modern science. Presumably, execs are expecting a ratings spike once ‘Lost’ makes its exit from the airwaves in may, leaving ‘Fringe’ as the only J.J. Abrams-endorsed vehicle still on the roads. In any case, keep paying close attention, the mystery is about to get even bigger.

In ‘Iron Man 2′, Tony Stark is back and, since his highly publicized charades from the last film, has become just about most popular man in the world. Now he finds him self struggling with the magnitude of his celebrity, while trying to keep his head in the game concerning nefarious, tech-savvy villains.

The already stellar cast now includes the likes of Scarlet Johanson, Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke (he’s the bad guy) and like the first film, it looks like a funny, topical, action-packed ride. Oh who are we kidding, you know you’re going to see it at some point. So watch the new trailer, go ahead and wet yourself (if that’s your thing) and wait for ‘Iron Man 2′ to kick off the summer movie season on May 6.

Now, female cast member Sigourney Weaver is helping to set the record straight by stating in an interview with Channel4 that ‘Ghostbusters 3′ is a definite go. What’s more (SPOILER WARNING!!!), she let’s it slip Bill Murray will be returning not as a Ghostbuster… but as a ghost. It seems like a half-joke when she says it, but this video of Murrary hamming it up with David Letterman the other night adds an alarming amount of credibility. The two joke about long-delayed prospect of G-3 and Murray claims that he told the writer’s that he’d only do it if they figured out a way to kill him off in the first reel of the film.

If you believe either source, this certainly seems like a viable and realistic option when considering Murray’s reclusiveness as an actor, especially where the roles that made him famous are involved.

Really, neither film screams Oscar in the traditional sense, but with the awards field expanded to 10 nominations, this isn’t exactly a traditional year. So who really deserves to walk away with the trophy? At this point, the most gratifying victor might be the darkest horse in the bunch: the relentlessly original scifi docu-thriller, ‘District 9′

All typical guidelines aside, ‘D-9′ would be a totally deserving winner of Hollywood’s top honor, even if industry insiders refuse to consider anything outside of ‘Avatar’ or ‘Locker’. In terms of photorealistic visuals, big action and unique settings, the film more than rivals Cameron’s trip to Pandora (not to mention, youngster Neill Blomkamp made his film for about $530 million less!). In terms of story, acting and just about everything else that didn’t require a set of 3D glasses, ‘D-9′ absolutely held its own. It even has the kind of deftly depicted political allegory that the Academy usually drools over. Yet, the nomination feels more like pity than potential. But why?

The easy answer is that the film is neither the “unstoppable blockbuster” or the “little indie that could”. It’s a moderately budgeted exercise in creative freedom that isn’t above crass jokes, extraterrestrial shootouts a complete lack of star power. It’s progressive in a way that doesn’t alienate its viewers. And, perhaps, that is destined to be the film’s real triumph in the long-run. Because even though it has my vote for the top prize, the Academy will never be above following suit. For more perspective on the debate about whether or not ‘District 9′ is too real for Oscar, check out this great article from Cinemablend.com

Back when news surfaced that ‘Futurama’ was to return to Fox, expectations were high; the world has progressed so rapidly in the show’s cancelled years, lending ample opportunity for the writers to lampoon whatever the hell they want… this time with an eager audience on the receiving.

Newsarama.com caught up with Phil Lamarr, one of the show’s voice actors, who had this to say concerning to rebirth of an animated cult sitcom:

“We started last fall. Fall of 2009…the new episodes, in my opinion, are the best yet. They’re really, really funny. Some of them are really, really thoughtful as well. The guys have come back to the show with renewed energy. The writers and producers. And they’re happy to be back, and know the world and the characters so well that they’re able to…it feels like they’re better at it. They’re able to do more with it than they were before.”

You can read the interview in its entirety here.

No mystery, however, has been more profound and affecting than the journey of John Locke. Once a tragically crippled man angry at the world, then a born-again spiritual penchant to the island, and now… the smoke monster? It’s true. The island’s supernatural security system of sorts — a murderous, elusive column of black smoke — has baffled and intrigued viewers since the shows first episode (long before they ever knew what it was). Presumed at this point to be a mystical incarnation of the benevolent Jacob’s nemesis (dubbed the “Man in Black”), who duped Ben — in the guise of Jack’s father — to kill John Locke, eventually inhabiting Locke’s body as a duplicitous loophole of sorts… eh, see what I mean? Exasperating.

Thankfully, Entertainment Weekly sat down with Terry O’Quinn delve into the secrets about Locke, Un-Locke, Smokey, the Man in Black, whatever you want to call him, and to a greater extent, what it has been like to play a character whose motivations are constantly shifting in one of the most elaborately constructed shows in television history. Enjoy.

In his words…

“So there is an evolution, people are now starting to not accept inferior forms (of 3D), which is good. But it’s typical of Hollywood getting it wrong, right? We do a film that’s natively authored in 3D, shot in 3D, so they assume from the success of that, that they can just turn movies into 3D in 8 weeks… and that’s going to work somehow.”

Personally, I’m still on the fence with 3D. It’s undoubtedly the path that lie ahead of us, but with virtually every studio adopting the the platform it seems like an epic oversight in one of the most foundational rules in making quality cinema: never put style over substance. Today, visual effects are designed only to be out-designed as technology quickly turns out new gadgets to do so. But don’t take my word for it, see what Cameron has to say about the matter.

Surely, Spielberg and co. have taken into consideration that viewers today have a heightened palate for special effects and television isn’t exactly an ideal platform effects-heavy productions. Then again, maybe we can just take comfort in the fact that it’s the most successful filmmaker on the planet has his hand in the pot and he rarely disappoints.

The project was shopped around the UK by co-writers Craig Silverstein and Kelly Marcel, but found its way across the pond once some of the biggest producers in American TV showed interest. It’s still in the early stages of development with a showrunner still yet to be named, but with enough backing, this could be Fox’s ‘LOST’.

Quite fittingly, fanboy God Joss Whedon has made it a point to document the road leading to and the world of the most important convention in the fantasy universe (which is, of course, much cooler and way bigger than our own). He’s not doing it alone though. In fact he’s enlisted help from one of the most affluent documentarians working today, ‘Super Size Me’ director Morgan Spurlock.

Spurlock directed the successful 20th anniversary special for ‘The Simpsons’ a couple months back. His ability to turn documentary films into something even the most hardened viewer could enjoy coupled with Whedon’s hardcore, expansive fan base should make the film a winner. The question now is whether it will get a theatrical release or if this is something we can expect to see on cable. Read on at MovieMoron.com